The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-09-23


'sNot always. Lady umfreville. And
happily have taken partner who viii
relieve me Of much responsibility.
"Indeed-a very wise step. A rising
young city man, suppose II he is a
friend of yours, you must bring him here
some day" t'a
mo; he Is not n city man, but for all
that he has useful business talents. 1t is
Mr.. Paulet He is a very reliable young
Fellow, and / have every confidence in
him." Lady Umfrevillc stared at Mr.
Ciodd in undignified amazement.
Rupert Paulet, your partner! He
wrote TO say ne had a communication to
make to me. Can it possibly be this?
What do his prospects signify to me?'
"A great deal, / fancy 4 believe he
wishes to marry your daughter"
The lady turned pale. Ii was clear
from this that Mr.. Codd had no matrimo-
nial intentions regarding Lady Geraldine.
MY daughter!'' she almost screamed,
THAT penniless man marry my beautiful
GeraldineY Never"
"Xou forget that he has good prospects
that as my partner he is n long way
from penniless."
4tShe has deceived me- am no match
for her," said the countess tragieally as
she rang the bell and ordered the servant
to summon Lady Geraldine.
The young lady appeared promptly.
1'How do you do, Mr.. Coddy' and she
warmly pressed his hand. ''What do you
want me for, mammaW
~ understand from Mr.. Codd that Ri
pert Paulet has proposed to you, and is
coming to speak to me on the subject
You have had the audacity to accept
him?''
Eyes, mamma, but you only understand
q part of the truth. You do not under
stand what part generous city man has
played. / owe debt of gratitude to Mr.
Codd l can never repay. BY his help L
am saved from some mercenary marriage,
and am able to marry the man 1 love.
mean TO marry Rupert Paulct You know
well enough that he and i have loved each
other from childhood, and yet-yet you
threw me at Mr. Codd's head. did not
do him justice Mt first i could not be-
lieve in so much kindness-that he was
playing part for Rupert's sake to shield
me from persecution. / admire and re-
spect him beyond all words. He has even
deceived YOU"
These were bitter words, spoken in
tone Of scorn that cut home.
'Leavc tho room instantly. If you
marry Rupert Paulet it will not be with
my consent
Mr.. Codd seemed to have something
moro to say.
''There is another matter Of more i'm
portance TO me personally, Lady Umfre-
ville," he stammered n little. "You have
another daughter-she is a charming girl.
1t is not possible that her affections are
already engaged Have 1 your permits
sion to pay my addresses to her?"
The countess was dumfoundcd
''Mr Codd, l am amazed. How have
you made her acquaintance? She is yet
in tho schoolroom.
Mr.. Codd explained rather lamely.
Lady Umfreville sighed. This was q
mitigation of calamity. If Geraldine in
sisted on marrying. Rupert, who was SO
likely to give assistance as Mr.. Codd, II
brother-in-lawY
1t came to pass at the end Of the season
that Lady Umfreville's two lovely daugh-
tiers were given away at the same altar.
"Optimus is darling" wrote Lady
u month later to her sister "He
Is just the sort of q husband to suit me-
Every one ought to marry a city man.
He thinks everything l say and do is right
and is, Oh! SO generous. He isn't hand
some, but then he isn't bit jealous, and
lets me dance with all the best looking
men, and when i come back to him /
think how stupid they all were, and when
l tell him so he looks rather pleased. I'm
glad now didn't come out last season.
I'm sure you can't be as happy as am.
have asked the dull old Fraulein to come
and spend q week with us out Of graft
tude. She never told mamma how Opti-
mus used to meet us in the park. Mamma
has given up the house at Princes gate
She is coming to us Tor month next sea.
son. She is very fond of Optimus now
She says he is her favoritc son-in-law.
think he gives her handsome checks"
All this was absolutely true, the giving
Of checks not the least part of it.
Rupert Paulet goes to the city regu-
larly and prospers exceedingly, yet man.
aging to combine u large amount of pleas
urc with business. Lady Geraldine is the
happiest of wives, and is never naughty
toward Mr., Codd nowadays. London
Life.